Butter-printer.



W. R. NICOLL.

BUTTER PRINTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29. ms.

Patented J une 4, 1918.

WILLIAM R. NICOLL, OF OWATONNA, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVIS WATKINSDAIRYMENS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BUTTER-PRI TER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. NICOLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Owatonna, in the county of Steele and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Printers, ofwhich the following is a specificat1on.

This invention relates to a device for printing or stamping butter orthe like and for dividing a mass of butter into certain predeterminedsmaller masses or quantities which are of convenient form and size forhandling, selling and the like. The principal object of the invention isto provide a new and improved construction, combination and arrangementof parts for accomplishing the desired results.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing partsin section of a device constructed in accordance with the principles ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, andFig. 8 is a cross sectional view.

Briefly-stated, the operation of the present device consists in fillinga fixed frame which has a movable bottom with a q'uan tity of butter andthen pressing the'butter through the frame against suitably spaceddividers which separate the mass of butter into a predetermined numberof smaller bodies having a definite size and'shape.

In carrying out this invention a pair of end'members 5, preferably ofmetal, are rigidly connected by a pair of base members 6, usuallyofwood, and spaced apart at the center to allow for the action andmovement of certain operative parts. Each end member is formed withperforated guide lugs 7 at the bottom and with a slot 8 in one or bothof which is pivoted a lever 9 with an operating arm 10 extending beyondthe outer end of the member in which it is attached. The slot 8 iscontinued toward the top of each member 5, and in this portion of theslot a locking member 11-is pivoted which has a winged fastening nut 12.At the base of each member it is formed with shoulders 13 and 14 bymeans of which other parts of the printerare supported.

A frame 15 for containing butter and open at the bottom and top is of asize to be supported by the shoulders 14. Movable through this frame isa plate 16 provided with guide posts 17 which extend throughSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed January 29, 1916. Serial No. 74,991.

the perforated'lugs 7 of the end members 5 r and guide the plate in itsmovement through v It is preferably provided with countersunk portions18 on its upper face in which are seated a plurality of smallerplates orpads 19. These pads are freely removable from the plate, and are spacedslightly apart by the countersunk portions.

At the top of the butter-containing frame 15 is a dividing frame 20which preferably extends around the outside of the frame 15 and isseated on the cross-pieces 21 of the end members 5. This dividing frame20 has slots 22 at the ends in which the fastening members 11 aremovable so that the winged nuts 12 engage the upper side of the dividingframe. Extending across the dividing frame and across the top of thebutter containing frame 15 at predetermined distances, are a pluralityof dividers each comprising a wire 23 fixed at one side of the dividingframe 20 by a fastening device 24 andremovably attached at the otherside of the dividing frame by means of a threaded screw 25 which isrotated to tighten or disengage the wire 23 from its side. The dividers23 are so disposed that when the plate 16 is raised they will be seatedin the space between the pads 19 so that the top surface of the pads intheir raisedposition will above the wires 23, as clearly shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 2. i

The operating means forthe plate 1600mprises the handled operating lever9 anda lever 26 pivoted in the base members 6 and connected to the-otherlever 9 by means of a link 27. These levers are not connectedto theplate 16 but merely engage the bottom of the plate moving it upwardly asdesired, the plate and levers falling of their own Weight.

In operation, frames 15 filled with butter may be placed on the endmembers 5 and locked in position or the empty frames may be placed onthe end members and then filled with butter. The dividing frame ,20 isplaced over the frame 15 and the plate 16 with its pads 19 is movedupwardly pressing the butter in the frame against the dividing membersand therefore'cutting the butter into as many blocks as desired, andeach block is then removed on its pad 19 so that pads 19 therefrom andthe pads rerun-eats the plate 16 for further use. These pads 19 may;be-pro'vided' with-any suitable design or inscription by formingraisedportions or depressions thereon Which will appear on thedivided-blocks of butter-the reverse of the design on the pad. In thisvvay the blocks ofbutter may be marked With a trade mark orany suitablename or the like,

It, is obvious that any number of blocks, or'fblocks of any size, or ofdifferent sizes may: be made With this de'vice,by simplyvaryingthe'n-umber ofrlivid'ers'for thepositions of tlie dividers. It isfurther obvious that'blockslessf depth than the full depth of the frame15 may be' produced by raising the plate: 16 only part Way by means'of'the lever arm 10 and holding it insuch' position, whereuponrthe massof butter protruding above thetopI oflthe frame 15' maythen be removedor out off by running a cutter along the top of the'frame 15. Thismethod might t'emp1o ed, f0r example in cutting pats of butter forhoteluse and the like. v

Itis' obvious thatother modifications in the structure ofthefdevice-might be made Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of,the inventions i What I cl'a'im is: i

1. butter printer comprising a fixed frame open attop and bottom, abottom plate movable therein,= and a plurality of supporting :leversunconnected thereto one ofvvhich has a handle for manually moving the:plate throughthe frame.

A. butter printer comprising an open fixed frame for containing a'knovvnquantity of butter, a ,plate forming a bottomfor the frame, a pluralityof connected levers for y supporting the'pl'ate at' the ends thereof andfor movingboth ends thereof uniformly through" the frame When one leveris actuated,.and guiding means comprisinga fixed support and postsslidable therein and fixed to the plate.

3'. 'In' a butter printer, the combination vvitha'supportingbase, of endpieces spaced apart" thereon, a framesupported by and seeurable' to theend pieces, a plate movable p through the frame, guiding means for saidplate extending through said end pieces, and a dividing :framereinovablyattached at the topof the other frame.

4. In a butter printer, the combination with a pair of rigidly connectedendpieces, a frame supportedat the corners by said The blocks thusformed endpieces, releasable means for securing the frame to the" endpieces; a plate mevabIe through the fr'a'fiie in sueh fixedposition, theend pieces having guide openings, and guide posts'secured to the plateextending through said openings to direct the plate in its movenieiftth'rough the frame. I

,'5., In a butter printer, the combination vvith end members rigidlyconnected and spaced apart, a frame for confining butter looselysupported thereon, pivoted fastening means in connection Witheach-member for holdingthe said: frame in position, aplate forming abottom' movable through the frame for discharging butter therefrom, andmeans for operating the plate comprisinga pair of connected levers uponWhich the plate normally restsone ofwhich is pivoted in-- each= of saidend members With an arm extendingtherefrom for manually operatingbothlevers, V I A I 6. In a butter printer, the combination with a pairof end membersof a base rig idly. secured to the members for spacingthem apart, aframe supported byth'e mem bers, a -di viding frameadjacent the upper side of the other frame with, dividers extendingacross it, means for ,detachably conneeting the-0W0 frames to the endmembers, I

into a predetermined number of smaller,

quantities a pair of connected levels for moving-the plate and a'separate removable pad loosely supported by the plate for each of'thedividedportions of the butter where:

by the-said divideclportions may: each be separately removed from theprinter with its pad. v I I v Intestimony yvhereof I have signed my nameto this specification, in the presence of two.subscribingwitnesses; onthis 25th day of January A. D. 1916.

WIILLIAM'R. Niconn .Witnesses-a Y I CARL K BENNETT, Rose Bronson.

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